Viscosimeter



Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES 1,989,050 VISCOSIMETER Walter J. Albersheim and Harvey Konheim,

New York, N. Y.

Application June 18, 1931, Serial No. 545,242

6 Claims.

cosity meters vha g, among other things, cer-' tain valves, orifices and jets which, when used in connection with certain li quids, suchas, mexample, lubricating ofls in gasoline engines, become unreliable in their operation due to the accumulation and deposition of sludge, dirt, or solid particles carried by the liquids.

It is therefore an object ofthis invention to provide a device of the aforementioned kind 7 with a simple and highly efllcient means for preventing the fouling of the parts of the meter by means of solid particles.

Further, it is an object 'of this invention to provide a filtering or sludge removing arrangement which is cheap to construct, easy to install, and which may be readily removed for cleaning. Also, it is an object of this invention to provide a filtering or sludge :removing device, in an apparatus of the aforementioned type, which is highly eflicient in its operation but which does not destroy the reliability of-the device itself.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a. dirt indicating mechanism which, upon quick examination, indicates the amount of dirt taken out of the liquid. 1

Also, in devices of the kind disclosed in our aforementioned patent application, we have found that the-yieldable diaphragm, when subjected to unusually high pressures, become bellied" or set, thereby rendering the device inaccurate.

It is therefore-a further object of this invention to provide anarrangeme'nt which precludes the possibility of setting of the diaphragm and which aifords protection to the same regardless of the pressures exerted on-the diaphragm.

Further, it is an object-of this invention toprovide diaphragm protecting which eflicient in its operation, and which does not render the operation of the device itself inaccurate.

These and ancillary m objects of the invention will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in art from the following description taken in con;

Fig. ,2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the meter is seen to comprise the casing 10 having an upper section 11 and a lower section 12. The bottom, 5

edge of the section 11 is in the form of an annular flange 13 internally threaded at 14 and having an abutment or shoulder 15 against which the yieldable diaphragm 16 is held in place. Any suitable gasket 17 is applied to the edge of the 10 diaphragm 16 to provide a tight connection. Carried by the section 11, preferably at the cen-. 'ter thereof, is a valve housing 20 internally threaded at 21 and provided with a screw cap 22. Mounted within the housing 20 is a bushl5 ing 23 threaded to engage with the threads 21. The bottom of the bushing 23 has a circular flange 24 which has a circular opening 25. The holes 26 are provided in the bushing 23 to permit the flow of liquid into 'the interiorthereof. 20 Slidably mounted within the bushing is a plunger 30 having spacer rings 31 upon which are formed teeth 32 in order to maintain the plunger in alignment within the bushing .23 and to permit the plunger to move vertically within the bushing 23 to cause the point ,33 of the plunger to fit into the opening 25. A spring 34 is positioned between the cap 22 and the top of the-plunger 30 to urge the plunger normally down against the opening 25. The diaphragm 16 is provided with a circular block of metal upon which the stud 41 is mounted. The stud 41 is positioned centrally of the opening 25 and in the movement of the diaphragm 16 the stud 41either raises the plunger 30 or permits the same to fall under the action of the spring 34. Carriedby the upper section 11 is a horizontal l cylindrical tube which communicates with the interior of the valve housing 20. The coupling 51 having the nipple 51a isprovided for connecting the tube 50 'with'the source of the liquid to be The end of the tube. 50 is threaded at 52 to receive thenipple 51a and at the end of the threaded portion there is provided a shoulder 53, A cylindrical screen" 54 has its end 55 arranged to abut against the shoulder 53 to'provid a seal for the flow of liquid between the shoulder and the end 55. The opposite end of the screen 54 is provided with a wing nut 56 to which the screen is soldered, brazed or otherwise attached. The nut 56 is threaded to engage the interior thread of the hoi'lsing' 50 whereby the screen may belocked in position. The wing-head 57 is provided on the nut fid'to'permit the ready screwing of the screen immemmumaa. acclimation so a cast integral with or otherwise suitably mounted upon the section 11 communicating with the chamber 61 of the instrument. A coupling 62 is joined to the connection 60. By means of this coupling any suitable pressure indicating device may be used, such as, for example, a pressure gauge (not shown) to indicate ,the pressures in the chamber 61.

The screen 54 is of such size and shape that there is a space 57 between the interior of the tube 50 and this screen, it being understood that the end of the screen closes this space,by virtue of the fitting of the end 55 againstnthe' shoulder 53 as above described.v The interior of the tube 50 communicates with the interior of the housing 20 through the ports 58.

The lower section 12 comprises a step-shaped member 70 having a horizontal flange '11 beveled along its edge 72 and abutting against the diaphragm 16 and its gasket 17. The nipple of the member 70 is threaded at 73 and also at 74 to provide a ready connection to some liquid receiving apparatus. Into the terminal of the nipple it fitted a tube '75 havinga passage or friction tube 76 of small diameter, and the upper portion of the tube 75 is in the form of a cylinder 77 in which is slidably mounted a piston '78. The piston 'is attached to the diaphragm 16 in any'suitable manner. The walls of the cylinder 77 are provided with openings 79 through which the liquid is adapted to pass from the o tside of the cylinder to the interior thereof and ou hrough the passage or friction tube 76. A coil spring 80 is disposed between the shoulder of the cylinder and the bottom of the piston 78.

In order to hold the sections 11 and 12 together, there is provided an annular retainer ring 81 having a surface 82 beveled to engage with the surface 72 and also being threaded externally to engage threads 14 of the flange 13. The diaphragm 16 is provided with a sharp-edged orifice 90 which may be a hole of small diameter, or alternatively, two or more of such orifices may be used as desired.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The meter is connected to the source of liquid to be measured by means of the coupling 51 while the coupling 62 is connected to any suitable gauge or other pressure indicating apparatus. The nipple is connected to any suitable receptacle for receiving the liquid measured, and in actual operation in a gasoline engine this liquid may be returned to the crankcase.

The liquid enters the tube 50 by passing interiorly of the screen through the end 55 and outwardly of the screen into the space 57 surrounding the same. It will be understood that during this travel the liquid deposits whatever solid particles cannot pass through the screen in the interior thereof. The liquid now flows from the space 5'1 of the tube 50 into the interior of the valve housing 20 through the ports 58, and from the ports 58 it passes through the openings 26 into the interior of the bushing 23 anddownwardly therefrom through the opening 25 into the chamber 61.

. above the diaphragm the same is pressed downwardly, withdrawing the stud 41 and permitting the plunger 30 to close the opening 25 thereby cutting ofi the supply of liquid. The-liquid flows As the pressure of the liquid builds updetermined amount the diaphragm is displaced upwardly, causing the stud 41 to engage the projection 33 on the plunger 30 and to open the passage 25 permitting more liquid to flow into the instrument. The pressure readings-indicated by the gauge connected to the coupling 62 indicate the viscosity of the liquid flowing. It will be understood, of course, that the connection 60 may be made to the section below the diaphragm as well as to the section above the diaphragm. In either case the pressure readings of the gauge may be calibrated in units of viscosity.

Now, in the event that the meter is used upon a machine in which the pressure of the liquid might rise to a value sufficiently high to injure the diaphragm, the following mechanism functions to protect the diaphragm and prevent its being set or bellied" by high pressures. This mechanism is in the nature of a stop which permits only a predetermined amount of diaphragm displacement and when this amount is reached, a hydrostatic pressure supports the entire diaphragm on its under side, thus preventing further displacement.

When this predetermined pressure is attained the diaphragm is displaced downwardly to a point where the piston '78 covers the holes 79 in the cylinder, thus preventing the flow of liquid out of the section below the diaphragm. The liquid thus trapped supports the under side of the diaphragm, and due to the relative incompressibility of the liquid added pressures on the top of the diaphragm cannot displace it further. We have found by test that many times the allowable pressure may be imposed upon the instrument with-' out the slightest injury to the diaphragm. ;It will be understood, of course, that as long as this high pressure obtains, the hydrostatic pressure is maintained underneath the diaphragm to protect it; but when this excess pressure subsides; the diaphragm rises thus uncovering the port '79.

By virtue of our cylindrical screen 54 having the wing nut 56, the sludge or dirt removed from the liquid may be conveniently and'quickly removed from the meter without dismantling the same. This arrangement has been found to be of particular value for use on automobiles, for the operator at frequent intervals may quickly remove the screen to determine the character of his oil from the amount of deposited dirt, and at the same time he may clean the same.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A viscosity meter comprising a casing, a

yieldable member mounted in said casing and dividing the same into a first and a second section,

a valve to control the now of liquid. to be'measured into said first section, means connecting said valve to said member, said member having a passage through which the liquid flows from said first into said second section, a cylinder connected to said second section and having a passage through which the liquid flows out of said section, means carried by said member for opening and closing said last mentioned passage, whereby a lwdrostatic pres-I sure is created when the movement of said memher exceeds a predetermined amount, and apressure responsive said sections.

2. A viscosity meter comprising a casing, a yieldable member mounted in said casing and dividing the. same into a first and a second section, a valve to control the flow of liquid to be measured into said first section, means condevice connected to one of vnecting said valve to said member, said member having a passage through which the liquid flows from said first into said second section, a cylinde'r having an outlet passage connected to and communicating with said second section, said cylinder having openings whereby the liquid may flow from said second section into said cylinder and out through said last mentioned passage, a piston carried by said member and slidably mounted in said cylinder, the movement of said member moving said piston to open or close said openings, whereby to control the flow of liquid out of said second passage, and a pressure responsive device connected to one of said sections.

3. In a viscosity meter, a casing having a first section and a second section, said first section having an internally threaded annular flange, an abutment at the base of said flange, a yieldable member seated against said abutment, said second section being seated against said member, an annular retainer ring externally threaded and engaging the threads of said flange, a valve housing mounted on said first section, a cylindrical bushing threaded into said housing, said bushing having at one end a bevelled opening, and a plunger slidably mounted in said bushing, said plunger having spacer studs and a pointed end, which end registers with said bevelled opening.

4. In a viscosity meter, a casing having a first section and a second section, said first section having an internally threaded annular flange, an

abutment at the base of said flange, a yieldable bushing threaded into said housing, said bush-' ing having at one end a bevelled opening, a

plunger slidably mounted in said bushing, said plunger having spacer studs and a pointed end, which end registers with said bevelled opening, and means carried by said yieldable member to move said plunger, whereby to control the amount of liquid passing through said opening.

5. A viscosity meter comprising in combination, a casing, yieldable means dividing said casing into a first section and a second section,-said means being provided with a passage to permit the flow of liquid from said first to said second section, a valve connected to said casing, and communicating with said first section to control the flow of liquid thereinto, means carried by said first mentioned means for operating said valve, means for limiting the displacement of said first mentioned means, said second section being provided with a restricted passage, and means. responsive to pressure variations connected to one of said sections.

6. A viscosity meter comprising in combination, a casing, yieldable means dividing said casing into a first section and a second section, said means being provided with a passage to permit the flow of liquid from said first to said second section, a valve connected to said casing and communicating with said first section to control the flow of liquid thereinto, means carried by said first mentioned means for operating said valve, means for establishing a static pressure under said diaphragm to supp rt the same and to limit its displacement when the pressure of the liquid flowing into said first section exceeds a predetermined amount, said second section being provided with a restricted passage,- and means responsive to pressure variations connected to one of said sections.

WALTER J. ALBERSHEDL HARVEY S. KONHEIM. 

